Reply
Super Contributor
Posts: 449
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

O/T beauties in the dental field

Question for you. Is it accepted practice to use anesthesia on both sides simultaneously? In the past when this has been an issue (cavities on both sides) , the dentist has had me do it on separate appointments. This is a new dentist to me and so I do not have any relationship or trust established yet. He stated that doing both sides is fine. It is what the patient tolerates. Your thoughts would be appreciated. TIA ~smiles, SnowKita
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 125
Registered: ‎10-05-2010

Re: O/T beauties in the dental field

Hi snowkita,,Ive been in the business for 37 years.....(OUCH!!!) and what your new dentist is telling you is correct. I have now been in this practice of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery for 22 years...we often,,most often,,do both sides at the same time, as in extracting wisdom teeth or even removing cysts and tumors. It is all dependant on what the patient wants. It is , in this office anyway, beneficial to the patient to have it all done at once since most of them have sedation (costly) so, they choose to pay for sedation once and get it all done. No problems that I've ever seen with anesthitising both sides. Hope that helps.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,755
Registered: ‎05-08-2010

Re: O/T beauties in the dental field

animalsrus,

I have an unrelated question for you. (sorry SnowKita{#emotions_dlg.blush})

You stated that you work in Oral and Maxillofacial dentistry. We have one such doctor in our small town that is also doing facial fillers and Botox. Is this the norm? Just wondering....

TIA

Fear not Brothers and Sisters! I have read THE BOOK..........we win!!!
Super Contributor
Posts: 1,354
Registered: ‎11-30-2011

Re: O/T beauties in the dental field

Hi! I'm an expanded function dental hygienist for almost 20 years. While animalsrus is correct for surgical procedures, it can be a bit different for general practices, especially without sedation.

There are several variables in determining the amount and placement of local anesthetic. First, is it medically safe for the patient to have the anesthetic with epinephrine. While there are anesthetics without epi, commonly used local anesthetics raise the heart rate (giving you the jittery effect).

Second, is the procedure one where both sides of the mouth are involved, such as a partial or denture.

Third, are the procedures on the maxillary (top) or mandibular (lower) - the reason being, the top generally consists of smaller, more local anesthetic (only a few teeth numbed at a time) where the bottom is usually done with a "block" which numb the whole lower quadrant. For the patient's consideration, it's customary to leave one side of the mouth for the patient to chew with, as almost always with local anesthesia the tongue becomes numb also. Chewing on the tongue can be nasty.

Fourth, are the procedures small 1 or 2 surface "fillings" or more extensive, such as crown preps.

There are many variables in deciding local anesthetic usage. Hope this helps.

Super Contributor
Posts: 1,354
Registered: ‎11-30-2011

Re: O/T beauties in the dental field

On 8/28/2014 tends2dogs said:

animalsrus,

I have an unrelated question for you. (sorry SnowKita{#emotions_dlg.blush})

You stated that you work in Oral and Maxillofacial dentistry. We have one such doctor in our small town that is also doing facial fillers and Botox. Is this the norm? Just wondering....

TIA

I hope you don't mind me jumping in here. While a oral & maxillary practice may do this, as many of the top doctors in this field are both MDs & DDS (DMD). I do feel these cosmetic procedures are, what I would consider, outside the scope of general practice dentistry. I'm sure many dentists take a few-hour course and feel comfortable adding these cheap (for the practitioner), quick & easy pure profit-mailing procedures.

I'm not sure where the ADA stands on this at the moment, but I know this sort of "outside the scope of dentistry" practices were looked at closely around 15 years ago. Many patients were having "permanent makeup/lip tattoos" done and the side effects of many dental local anesthesia injections are numb lips. Patients would come in, I'd numb them up, the dental office would charge an astronomical amount and everyone was happy....except the ADA, who put a cabosh on the fun pretty quickly.

Super Contributor
Posts: 771
Registered: ‎04-06-2010

Re: O/T beauties in the dental field

On 8/28/2014 animalsrus said:

Hi snowkita,,Ive been in the business for 37 years.....(OUCH!!!) and what your new dentist is telling you is correct. I have now been in this practice of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery for 22 years...we often,,most often,,do both sides at the same time, as in extracting wisdom teeth or even removing cysts and tumors. It is all dependant on what the patient wants. It is , in this office anyway, beneficial to the patient to have it all done at once since most of them have sedation (costly) so, they choose to pay for sedation once and get it all done. No problems that I've ever seen with anesthitising both sides. Hope that helps.

You probably shouldn't have told us what you do.........but since I ma having tons of dental work done lately and you have been around 37 years(something to be proud of ), I am going to be rude and ask you a couple of questions and I understand if do not care to answer.

I am a bit concerned because my new younger dentist ( he has been around now for maybe 8 years) doesnt ever want to do an extraction EVER. He sends us to an Oral surgeon. This is his policy with everybody and almost every tooth needs a crown. Should I be looking for a second opinion. He is nice but seems focused on making the most of each tooth.

Contributor
Posts: 72
Registered: ‎01-27-2014

Re: O/T beauties in the dental field

tends2dogs: I would say that depends on whether that doctor is a General Dentist or an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, because there is a huge difference in their training. Oral Surgeons go through a 4-6 year residnecy where they learn to do surgery on faces. We aren't talking wisdom teeth (although they do a lot of that because it is great $$). They repair the bones in the face after trauma, fix cleft palates, and where plastic surgeons usually use implants, Oral Surgeons can break the jaw, reposition and plate it to achieve cosmetic or functional results by actually changing bone structure. Depending on the quality of the residency program, they will do rotations with plastic surgery and neurosurgery and learn to perform eye lifts, brow lifts, cancer reconstruction etc. They learn all of the appropriate/aesthetically pleasing dimensions and measurements of the face and how to analyze the anatomy of patients and use surgery to achieve the desired results. So, a well-trained Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon certainly has more than enough training to perform injections like Botox. I would argue that it certainly surpasses the training of a dermatologist. That being said, I would never allow an OMS to perform it on me if they had gone through and inferior program and didn't have the training.
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,601
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: O/T beauties in the dental field

I worked for a peridontist for 23 years and its perfectly fine giving local on both sides of the mouth.As for extractions,my preference for molars or any teeth that are badly decayed would be an oral surgeon and of course wisdom teeth.

I know many dentists now that are doing the botox thing and I personally think they should stick to dentistry.Its all about bringing in the extra dollars and I wouldn't go that route.I like specialists that stick to their specialty,jack of all trades and master of none

We do not remember days,we remember moments.
The Rainbow Bridge!!!
Super Contributor
Posts: 449
Registered: ‎03-16-2010

Re: O/T beauties in the dental field

animalarus, F1wild, & beauty junkie-- thank you SO MUCH for responding. I believe it is top on one side and bottom on the other. So, I guess I will have to decide. If you don't mind I would like to tell you some more and see what you think. It makes me wonder what is standard. He is a DDS. When I have gone to a DDS in the past, I have been referred out for root canals. He does them though. If DDS's can do them, why refer out . Also, when I had my cleaning, the receptionist assisted. (It is a small, brand new office.) He did the cleaning. I've always had the hygienist do it. I believe she also assists with the fillings. So, what exactly can she do without being licensed? He does orthodontia as well. My kids will need that too. Are DDS's schooled for that as well? Again, why refer out? I so appreciate your time. Thanks again. ETA--I don't think he does botox-HaHa!,,
Valued Contributor
Posts: 546
Registered: ‎06-04-2010

Re: O/T beauties in the dental field

On 8/28/2014 tends2dogs said:

animalsrus,

I have an unrelated question for you. (sorry SnowKita{#emotions_dlg.blush})

You stated that you work in Oral and Maxillofacial dentistry. We have one such doctor in our small town that is also doing facial fillers and Botox. Is this the norm? Just wondering....

TIA

If you are talking about a Maxillofacial Surgeon, I would have no qualms whatsoever about that physician giving me botox or fillers. A Maxillofacial Surgeon is most often a dentist and an M. D. (or D. O.)surgeon trained in all things maxillofacial, including trauma surgery. They have waaayyyy above and beyond the experience of NPs doing it in derm offices these days. No qualms whatsoever. I wouldn't let a straight dentist do it though. fwiw